AUTfALS OP Ρ.ΟΟΕΕ DE BOVEDEN. A.D. 1176.
recently determine also to lead a most numerous army against them, and to wage war against the whole of Persia, inasmuch as by circumstances we were compelled so to do. Still, much of our preparations were made not according as we should have wished, or as appeared best suited to our object. However, in such way as occasion allowed us, and the state of events, means were taken to ensure a powerful attack upon them. Accordingly, for this purpose our imperial office collected around it all its resources : but, inasmuch as it had to take with it waggons carrying vast weights of arms and implements, both mangonels91 and other engines applicable to the storming of cities, it was consequently far from able to proceed with expedition on the march. Still further, while the army was passing on through its own country, and before any of our barbarian foes had engaged us in war, a most intractable malady, namely, a flux of the bowels, attacked us ; which, spreading among the troops of our empire, made its way among them all, and, a more dangerous antagonist than any warriors could be, slew and destroyed vast numbers. This malady, waxing more and more formidable, greatly weakened our forces. As soon as we had entered the territories of the Turks, that instant was heard the din of numerous battles, and the troops of the Turks engaged in combat with the armies of our empire on every side. However, through the graco of God, the barbarians were entirely put to flight by our men. But, after this, when we drew near to the narrow passes of an adjacent spot which the Persians call Cibrilcima, so many hordes of foot and horse, most of which had come from the interior of Persia, came up to the support of their fellow-countrymen, that, on meeting our army, they almost exceeded the numbers of our men. In consequence of the narrowness of the road and the difficulties of the passage, the army of our empire was extended in a line fully ten miles in length ; and, inasmuch as who went first were unable to support those who came last, and again, on the other hand, those who came last were unable to aid those who went before, it was no common misfortune that this distance lay between them. Indeed, the troops that formed the van were divided by a very considerable interval from the main body of our
9 1 The various reading "manganorum " is certainly preferable to "paganorum " in the text.

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